A clinical study on levels of neuropeptide Y in plasma in patients with cerebrovascular disease

Objective To investigate levels of neuropeptide Y in plasma and the clinical significance in patients with cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods The levels of neuropeptide Y in plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay in 138 cases with cerebrovascular disease and 28 healthy control subjects. 138 patients were divided into cerebral hemorrhage group (46 cases). cerebral infarction group (62 cases)and subarachnoid hemorrhage group(30 cases).Results The levels of neuropeptide Y in plasma in the three groups were higher than that in control group. The levels of neuropeptide Y in plasma in the three groups started to increase significantly during the first day,and reached peak on day 1d to 3d or 4d to 7d.They began to decrease from the eighth day. The levels of neuropeptide Y were higher than that in control group after 15 days. The severer the condition of cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction, the higher the neuropeptide Y levels. There was a significant correlation between plasma levels of neuropeptide Y and some complicated diseases of cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.Conclusion Neuropeptide Y play a major role in pathophysiological and pathogenetic mechanisms of cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage and some complicated diseases.